Monica Wehby, the Portland pediatric neurosurgeon seeking the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, launched a web video Thursday that shows 4-year-old footage of Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley promising constituents that they could still keep their existing health insurance under the new federal law.

The new Wehby video features footage of a Sept. 4, 2009, town hall meeting in Baker County in which Merkley said: "You would have the choice of sticking with the plan you have. If you like it, it will be absolutely there."

Merkley made similar promises on his website, although they were also made back in 2009. His staff did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

UPDATE: Merkley spokeswoman Courtney Warner Crowell said in a statement that the senator has worked to fix problems with the new law by sponsoring legislation that would allow people to keep existing plans.

Crowell also said that the senator does not believe it makes sense to simply undo the new federal health care law. "(T)he bottom line is that we need to fix the problems, not continue talking about moving back to a time where people were kicked off their insurance if they got sick, couldn't get insurance if they had a pre-existing condition or women were charged more than men," she said.

The latest attack from Wehby, who is in a field of five Republicans seeking the nomination to oppose Merkley, comes the day before the senator is scheduled to hold town hall meetings in King City, Lake Oswego and Portland.